Rebuilding in West, Texas

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

Photos:Photos: Rebuilding in West, Texas

Rebuilding in West, Texas – Eleanor Castro sits in her home in West, Texas. Her property was damaged by the fertilizer plant explosion a year ago that claimed 15 lives.

Hide Caption

1 of 8

Photos:Photos: Rebuilding in West, Texas

Rebuilding in West, Texas – An aerial photograph taken on Tuesday, April 15, shows the area affected by the explosion. The blast destroyed 120 homes and damaged 200 others across 37 blocks.

Hide Caption

2 of 8

Photos:Photos: Rebuilding in West, Texas

Rebuilding in West, Texas – A wooden cross memorial with a tattered flag sits near the site of the explosion. Residents say their faith has been instrumental in coping with the tragedy.

Hide Caption

3 of 8

Photos:Photos: Rebuilding in West, Texas

Rebuilding in West, Texas – Mayor Tommy Muska discusses the town's recovery efforts. "We're going to have a new normal someday," he says.

Hide Caption

4 of 8

Photos:Photos: Rebuilding in West, Texas

Rebuilding in West, Texas – A fence surrounds the barren site of West Fertilizer Co. Twelve months later, authorities haven't pinpointed the cause of the blast.

Hide Caption

5 of 8

Photos:Photos: Rebuilding in West, Texas

Rebuilding in West, Texas – A damaged home remains boarded up in a hard-hit neighborhood.

Hide Caption

6 of 8

Photos:Photos: Rebuilding in West, Texas

Rebuilding in West, Texas – John Raimer stands in front of a house in West, Texas, that was built by 60 volunteers from Oklahoma and Arkansas. Raimer is the construction chief for the West Long-Term Recovery Center.

Hide Caption

7 of 8

Photos:Photos: Rebuilding in West, Texas

Rebuilding in West, Texas – Work to rebuild the area surrounding the blast continues. "We can see something happening," says Dr. George Smith, West's director of emergency medical services. "There is light at the end of the tunnel."